Gun turret



1. CHASE ETAL 2,444,246

GUN TURRET l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 @E s a 5 R E a 7 0 T 6Q W M M A A V C D w.w N w w U m I 5 .m n 5 mm mm \K m G m. .m 3w mm mm MN June 29, 1948.

Filed Nov. 20, 1942 June 29, 1948. 1. CHASE ETAL GUN TURRET l0Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1942 INVENIORS IR WIN CHASE BUQN-S DAAQS/EATTYS June 29, 1948. 1. CHASE ET AL 2,444,246

GUN 'runnm- Filed Nov. 20, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet" 3 June 29, 1948. 1.cHAsE ET AL GUN TURRET l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 20, 1942 INVENTORSIRWIN CHASE BURNS [DA/25H:

June 29, 1948. l. CHASE ETAL 2,444,246

GUN TURRET Filed Nov. 20, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS lRW/N CHASEBURNS BARS/E June 29, 1948. l. CHASE ETAL 2,444,246

GUN TURRET Filed Nov. 20, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 M m l g (D k. r r m H 32 INVENTORS. IRWIN CHASE BURNS DARSIE.

ATT s June 29, 1948. CHASE ETAL GUN TURRET 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov.20, 1942 INVENTORS W/N CHA SE June 29, 1948. 1. CHASE ETAL GUN TURRET 10Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 20, 1942 QNEN 5E W R W W R. A mw V D m W m /1VI. B N U53 dD I June 29, 1948. CHASE ET AL 2,444,246

mm TURRET Filed Nov. 20, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATT 'ys W O n W 95.5% HE W O vm .11

June 29, 1948. I. CHASE ET AL GUN TURRET l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Nov.20, 1942 ZOFCWOQ UZEE Mun-23x6 NEPQQE 20m.

INVENTORS.

E 5 I V! A C D N N W W m WWW Patented June 29, 1943 omcs GUN runnerApplication November 20, 1942, Serial No. 466,260

14 Claims. l.

Our invention relates to ordnance, and contemplates a new turretmounting guns particularly for anti-aircraft fire from small navalcraft.

The broad object of our invention is to provide a self-containedprotected unit for a battery of guns, for a single gunner, and to enablehim to aim his guns rapidly and to control their fire with ease. In theaccomplishment of that object, we fixedly mount appropriate guns andtheir operating mechanism on a platform in the form of an armored cab orcradle, which the gunner is to occupy, said cab or cradle being hungfrom horizontal trunnions in bearings supported on a turn-tablerotatable on a vertical axis upon a base bolted to the deck; thus, thegunner at all times maintains a relatively fixed position relative tohis guns, and the platform has universal movement whereby he can get onand follow the target.

Within that broad object, our invention has numerous specific objects,which will be made point of as this description proceeds, and which areaccomplished, as will be seen. Among these are the inherent steadying ofgun recoil, special protection for the more vital regions in the turret,safety features which permit continued operation notwithstanding damageto some of the parts, simplicity of construction and operation andsensitiveness of control, and selective firing.

Although, as stated, the turret of our invention is particularlyconceived for use on small naval craft, it is of course adaptable tolarger vessels, and, as will appear, it may also be useful on militaryland vehicles or as a stationary outfit.

The turret of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsin which- Figure 1 is a side elevational View, part of the housing beingshown in section in order to reveal part of the means for mounting theturn-table;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, parts being broken away and shownin section to reveal the means for operating the turntable and formounting the cab;

Figure 3 is a plan view, part being broken away to show a horizontalsection at a lower level;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view, with the front of the cab removedin order to reveal the arrangement of the equipment within it;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional 2 view taken on the planeof the line 55 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction indicated by thearrows;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, except that it is schematic inpart in order to show the arrangement of certain of the parts andmechanisms within the cab;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 1, without showing details, butillustrating the action of the cab about its horizontal axis;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system for operatingthe cab in train and in elevation;

Figure 9 is the electrical wiring diagram; and

Figure 10, 10A and 10B are diagrammatic Views of the hydraulic systemfor firing the guns.

The same reference characters are applied to the same parts throughoutthe various figures.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 5:

The entire structure is mounted on a single stationary base II, which iscircular about the vertical axis indicated by the vertical dot-anddashlines in Figures 1, 2 and 5, and which is a casting of substantial sizeand weight and is suitably bolted to the deck.

A turn-table is mounted on this base, and this turn-table comprises amain supporting ring 12, carrying the circular crowned covering apron 13of iron sheet, this apron being formed with a transverse tunnel housingIt, forming the bight of a yoke to which further reference will be madepresently. A downwardly extending flange i5 carries the housing bandI511 about the periphery of this apron.

The ring I2 is provided with a plurality of short inwardly extendingarms I6, each of which is provided with a bearing IT, in which ismounted a stub shaft l8 carrying a roller 19, and these rollers run uponthe circular track 20 formed on the base II. Extending centrallydownward, from the inside of the apron l 3, is a tube 2 I, which centersthe turn-table on the base, with the rollers 59 on the track 20, byengagement in the central bearing 22 on the base, the lower end of thetube being provided with a hold-down nut 23 by means of which theturn-table and base are held together, with adequate play for freerotation of the one upon the other.

Concentric with and inwardly of the track 20, an upwardly extending rib24 is provided on the base I l and a ring gear 25 is fixed upon thatrib. Within the tunnel housing It, two hydraulic motors 2'6 are mounted,each with its shaft vertical, on the supporting plates 2'! fixed to thering l2, and the shaft of each motor is provided, at its lower end, witha pinion 28 meshing with the ring gear 2-5. Although but one suchhydraulic motor may be used, there are preferably two such motors, withpinions engaging the ring gear, one on each side of the turn-table.

The yoke, which has already been referred to, comprises the tunnelhousing 14 and the hollow iron sheet uprights 23, 29; and: the gunplatform, in the formwof a cab or'cradle, is hung. in this yoke on thehorizontal axis indicated by the horizontal dot-and-dash line in Figure2.

This cab is formed of armor plate, comprising the bottom 3!], whichcurves into the back wall 3|, side walls 32 and 33, and front wall 34,which, at its upper part, curves upwardly and backwardly to the topplate 35, hinged at 33. The cab is hung on its horizontal axis by wayoftubular trunnions 37, 31, secured to the side walls 32and 33 over alinedopenings therein, these trunnions being mounted in bearings 38 in theupper ends of theuprights 29; as shown particularly in Figlire-2.-

Reference is now made to Figure 1, wherein is illustrated the means forswinging the cab on its horizontal axis. This elevating device is in theform of a hydraulic ram, comprising a cylinder 4| and piston 42, theformer being pivotally connected-at 41 by. means of a stem 46 to a lug48 formed on the adjacent upright 29 of the yoke near the bottomthereof. The piston 42 has its connecting rod -43 pivotally engaged at44 in a socket plate 45 secured in the side wall 33 of the cab. Thecylinder has connected thereto flexible hydraulic conduits, leading fromwithin the cab, as will be described more fully later in thisspecification. A cylinder and plunger arrangement such as this isprovided also on the other side of the cab, as indicated in Figure 3.

The hydraulic systems will be later described. For the present, let itbe understood that when theh'ydraulic motors 26'are operated, thepinions on theirshafts, engagingthe fixed ring gear 25,willZeffect-rotation of the turn-table, and with it the yoke and cab,about the vertical axis, and that the supplying of fluid under pressureto one end or the other-of the cylinder 4| swings the cabin the yokeabout the horizontal axis, the latter action being illustrated in Figure7.

A plurality, of guns are mounted in the cab, fixedly and with theirbarrels parallel, and extending forwardly. through the front wall 34 andtop. plate 35. Some of the guns are mounted on the side Walls of thecab, as will be seen; others on the cab frame-work 49, 50. They areautomatic guns, of appropriate caliber, and there are shown six smallercaliber guns and two of larger caliber, arranged relatively to eachother as best illustrated in Figure 2, where it will be seen that thelarger caliber guns are at the middle of the cab with the smallercaliber guns variously grouped about them. This arrangement of the gunsis dictated by the desire to have the heavier guns, with the heavierrecoil, near the center of thestructure, by the nature of the gunsandtheir attendant mechanisms, and by provision for the gunners position.

The gun .constructiomper so, is not. part of this invention, andforsimplicity, there is just sufficient showing of them to indicate theirnature, .to illustrate their mounting, and to repre- 4 sent those partsthereof that are directly concerned with their incorporation in theturret and in the firing system.

The smaller caliber guns are shown at 5|, 5i, two of them being locatedat the sides, and higher than the other four, being supported from theside walls 32 and 33, respectively, by means of brackets 52, 52; theother four are mounted in a row upon brackets 53, 53 on the frame-work49, 55.

The ammunition for these smaller caliber guns is in the form ofcartridges held together in the form of a 'belt by clips, the belt ofcartridges being fed to the chamber of the gun at one side thereof, theclips being ejected at the other side, and the shells being ejected atthe bottom. As best shown in Figure 4, the two side guns of this smallcaliber group are fed, by way of a chute 54, from a magazine box 55 in amagazine compartment below. The clip ejector chute 56, on the othersideof the gun leads through an opening in the side wall 32 or 33 to theoutside, and the shell ejector chute 51 leads from the bottom of the gunthrough another opening in the side wall 32 or 33 to the outside.

Each of the other four smaller caliber guns is fedfrom a magazine box 55below by means of a chute 58, but in these cases the clip and shellejector chutes are differently for-med, as indicated respectively at 59and 60. Utilizing the fact that there are both right and left feed andejector arrangements, the ejector chutes for the two right hand guns andthose for the two left hand guns are respectively merged into a commonejector chute. 6| leading downwardly and rearwardly through the bottomof the cab to the outside.

Access to the magazine compartment is had by twodoors 62, B2, hinged at53, 63 and clasped at 64, through which empty magazine boxes may beremoved and charged ones substituted.

Thisma-gazine compartment is specially protected .by the secondaryoblique armor plates 65, 65,.welded in the positions shown in Figure 3.By this arrangement it is impossible to register a square hit on bothouter and inner skins.

The larger caliber guns 66, 66 are fixedly mounted on the cab frame-workby means of the support bar and bracket 61 and 68. These guns are fedfrom magazines 69, 69 which are brought to and attached to the guns in aknown manner, the shells being ejected from the guns at the bottomthereof and being carried away by means of'the chutes 10, 10, leadingdownwardly and rearwardly through the back of the cab to the outside- Itwill be observed that these larger caliber guns are considerably longerthan the smaller caliber guns, extending substantially from the backwallof the cab forwardly through and considerably beyond the front wall. Thesmaller caliber guns, on the other hand, are considerably shorter,extending only about half way back from the front wall, leaving roombehind those on one sidefor. the gunner. A seat H, with a back andheadrestflZ, 13 is provided for him in one of these open corners, and heoccupies this seat in a relatively fixed position at all times duringthe aiming and firing of his guns.

In front of him, and between his knees when in seated position, is adirectional control han- (119.14, which handle has movement forward andback, and from side to side, for purposes now to bedescribed. Theposition of this handle will be seen from Figures 3, .5 and 6. In itsmovement from side to side, and through a. connecting rod IE, itoperates a control valve I5, this valve being a three-position valveenabling a flow of operating fluid in one direction, or the reversedirection, or no flow at all. By the use of this valve, the gun platformis trained, i. e. it controls the movement of the cab about the verticalaxis. It is only movement of the control handle I4 from side to sidethat is transmitted to the valve I6, back and forth movement thereofhaving no effect on that valve. Back and forth movement of the controlhandle, without effect on the valve 76, is transmitted to another valve,Ti, which is similar to the valve 16 in that it also has threepositions, one for flow of operating fluid in one direction, one forflow in the reverse direction, and one for no flow at all; by this meansthe gun platform is operated in elevation, i. e. the cab is swung aboutits horizontal axis.

Sighting means is provided as follows: On the side wall 32, at the leftof the gunner, there is secured a plate I8 which, by way of a hinge i9,mounts a bracket fill carrying a sight 8i, preferably a unit sight,having a sighting leveller 82 carrying an eye socket 83. The sightingdevice is swung on its hinge I9, out of the way, in order to enable thegunner to get into his position, after which it is swung down before himinto position for use. In position on the seat, the gunner, with hissight before him, and with the control handle M between his knees, aswill be seen, is enabled to impart universal movement to the cab,training it by moving the control handle from neutral to one side or theother, and elevating it by moving the control handle from neutralbackward or forward.

The operating system, thus governed by this control handle, will now bedescribed.

An electric motor 84 is mounted on the back wall of the cab, and anothersimilar motor 85 is conveniently mounted somewhat lower and at the sideopposite the gunner, and these motors, connected in parallel, aresupplied with current in the following manner:

As already stated, it is a feature of our turret that it is structurallyentirely self-contained; all it requires from outside source is a supplyof electric current and this is done by cable leads from any suitablesource to the slip rings 85, 8! fixedly mounted on the disc 88, ofinsulating material, mounted on the stationary base I i, under the apronI3 and tunnel housing Id, and engaged by the brushes 89, 89, as shown inFigure 5.

Referring now to the electrical wiring diagram, Figure 9, it will beseen that one of these brushes 89 is grounded to the turret structure,and the other is connected, by means of conductor 99, with one terminalof the relay switch 9!. This relay switch is in the cab and theconductors from the brushes are run through the terminal housing I4 andone of the uprights as. The other terminal of that switch leads, by wayof conductor 52, to the terminal bus 93, which is connected, by way ofconductor 94, to one terminal of the electric motor 84-, and by way ofconductor 95 with one terminal of the electric motor 35, the otherterminals of the motors being grounded, as indicated. The relay switch9! is of known type, in which an operating coil is normally con nected,in effect, across the leads 99 and 92 in series with the operatingswitch 95, to actuate a switch blade into and out of bridging relationto the conductors 90 and 92. The operating switch 96 is convenientlyplaced on the end of the control lever I4 and is preferably made a deadmans control, i. e. a normally open push button which is closed againstspring pressure and which automatically opens the circuit when pressureon the button is released. If desired, storage batteries may be disposedin the cab for emergency use in the event of failure of the outsidesource of current, and they may, if desired, be placed toward the rearin order to provide additional counterweight for the gun barrels.

Each of the motors 84 and 85 operates two hydraulic pumps, one at eachend of its shaft, these pumps being marked 91, 98, 99 and I00. These arethe pumps which supply the pressures to operate the hydraulic motors 26,26 and the hydraulic rams ll, ll. The operating fluid is preferably oil.

The hydraulic system embodying these driving and driven elements, andtheir controls, will now be described by reference to Figure 8.Referring first to the means for training the turret:

The hydraulic motors 26, 2B are connected in parallel, the left handconnection of each being connected, by means of conduit I EH, with thetransverse control valve 16, to which the high pressure outlets of thepumps 91 and 99'are connected by means of conduits I02, I 02. Theconduits from the hydraulic motors are passed through the tunnel housingIA, through the uprights 29, and through the tubular trunnions into thecab. Each of the conduits I62 has in it a check valve I63 and, wherethey come together, they enter a pressure relief valve I04 leading tothe control valve 78. Excess fluid released by the pressure relief valveI94 is conveyed by conduit IE5 to return conduit I66 leading back to thereservoir Illl, which tank is connected with the low pressure inlets ofthe pumps 91 and 99 by way of the conduits I63 and I09, respectively.The reservoir Hi1 is shown in detail in Figure 6. It has in it a pistonIIl'ia, loaded by a spring Hill), and a check valve IIll'c is providedin the piston. Oil filled at the upper side of the piston is chargedinto the system, past the check valve, by raising the piston by means ofthe handle IIl'Id. The three connections to the reservoir are below thepiston, and the effect is to maintain a small pressure on the lowpressure side of the system. The piston and check valve are fit to aslight leakage, permitting rapid passage of air but only very slowleakage of oil. The purpose is to keep out of the system air which wouldtend to cause the oil to foam. The control valve I6 is connected withthe return conduit I06 by means of conduits II?) and III, and conduitIIZ connects it with both of the right hand connections of the hydraulicmotors 26, 26.

As already stated, the control valve I6 is a three-way valve, enabling(a) the pressure coming in by way of the conduits I02 to be applied tothe conduit IllI, the return flow being by way of the conduits H2, H9 orIll, and IIlB, to operate the hydraulic motors 255, 26 in one direction,(1)) that pressure to be applied to the conduit H2, the return flowbeing by way of the conduits iIlI, H8 or III, and I05, to operate thesemotors in the opposite direction, or (c) to bypass the pressure com-ingin by way of the conduits I02 directly through the conduits Ill) and III to the return conduit I05.

When the gunner, in his position, moves the control handle M to theleft, condition (a) prevails to operate the hydraulic motors and theirpinions in that direction to train the cab counterclockwise. When hemoves the control handle V the main hydraulic supply tank I01.

to the right, reverse action takes place to train the cab inclockwisedirection. When the jCOIltrol handle is in mid-position, athwartships,it is in neutral, 1. e. (a) position, the hydraulic motors are at, rest,and there is no training of the cab. In this way, the gunner'is enabledeasily to train his .cab, either rapidly by wide ,open movement of thetransverse valve or slowly by slight movement of it, to get hisbatteryof guns quickly in the vertical plane ofhis target and to follow'asslowly as its speed may require. It will be observed that there are twopumps and two .motors, each pair in parallel, so that, if either pump oreither motor is disabled, there will still be one motor and one-pump ineffective action. While such disabling will reduce the speed ofoperation to one-half, there can .still be operation.

Still referring particularly to Figure 8,. we shall now describe themeans for elevating the cab andfor I controlling such operation.

The other two hydraulic pumps 98 and I00; on the motors 84 and-85,respectively, have their high pressure outlets connected to the controlvalve 11 byway of conduits H3 and H4, respectively, each of theseconduits having in it a check-valve I I5, these conduits uniting at apressure relief valve H6 which has its normal outlet directly ,connectedwith the control valve TI and its excess outlet connected with thereturn conduit I06 which, as already stated, leads back to The controlvalve H, which, as already indicated, is of a character similar to thatof the control valve '15, governs the operation of the hydraulic rams iin manner as follows: The upper end of each cylinder 4| is connectedwiththe valve TI by means of the conduit Ill, and the lower end thereof isconnected with the valve by means of the conduit IIO, these conduitsbeing flexible and passing'from the rams into the uprights 2-9 andthrough the trunnions 31. The low pressure outlets from valve "I I, byway of the conduits H9 and I20, are connected with the return passageI06 leading back to the supply tank I01. The valve His such that thepressure coming from the pumps 90 and I00, by way of the conduits H3 andH4, respectively, may be applied to either of the outlets II! or II8,either to move the plunger inwardly wardly, respectively; and, in eithercase, the fluid return is by way .of the other and the conduits H9 orI20 and I06. When the control handle M, which operates thevalve I1, ismoved rearwardly, pressure is applied to move the pistons 42 inward intheir cylinders 4 I, thus to swing the cab backwardly about thehorizontal axis, ultimately to the position shown in dotted lines inFigure '7; when the control handle is moved forwardly, pressure is.applied to move the pistons outwardly, and the cab swings down towardand to its normal position shown in Figure 1. The relief valve H6 servesto prevent the build-v ing up of excess pressure at the limits ofmovement of the pistons in their cylinders. When the control handle isin mid-position, fore-andaft, the incoming high pressure is by-passed tothe return conduits IIB, I20 and I00, i. e. it is in neutral and thereisno operation of the cab in elevation. Here again, it will be observedthat there are two rams and two-motors, each pair in .parallel, .sothat, if either ram or either-motor is disabled, there will stillbeonexram and one motor ineffective action.

Thus, as the. gunner sits in position-relain the cylinder, or outtivelyfixed to his sight and his guns, he may quickly bring his guns upon histarget, both in train and .-in elevation, thereafter keeping on histarget by careful manipulation of the con.- trol handle 14, always. withhis finger down on the button of the switch 05 in order to keep theturret in operation.

We shall now describe the means for firing the guns. As before stated,they areall automatics, i. e. they continue to fire-shots in rapidsuccession so long as the trigger is held down and cartridges are fed,and they are fired in bursts as occasion may require. Devices forapplying pressure .to the trigger hydraulically are known, and they havetherefore been indicated merely diagrammatically at I.2I for the smallcaliber guns and at I22 for the large caliber guns. These .actu atorscomprise.essentially.a,..cylinder and piston and are operated simply bythe application of hydraulic pressure, and the manner in which that isdone in' the. present instance will now be described, reference beinghad .to Figures .3, 5, 6, 10, 10A and 103.

The meansfor this purpose is a static hydraulic system, governed by footpressure, with selective control in respect of choice of guns and inorder of firing if desired.

A master cylinder I23 is, provided, the piston in that cylinderbeing-operated by an appropriw ately placed treadle I24 through suitablelinkages IZS. This master cylinder, on the pressure side of the piston,is connected, by way of conduit I26, with the hydraulic operatingmechanisms of the guns through three-port two-posie tion control valveson a selector panel I21 mounted on the side wall 32 of the cab .at theleft of the gunner. Accordingly, in the arrangement herein shown, thisselector panel comprises six such valves I28 for the small caliber gunsand two such valves I29 for the large caliber guns. The high pressureports of these valves are all connected with the conduit I26. The secondport of each of these valves is connected with the actuator of aparticular gun, these conduits being indlcatedat I30, I30. The thirdport of each of these valves is connected with the low pressure end ofthe master cylinder bymeans of conduit I.3I. Each of these. valves hasan operating finger piece I32 and it may thereby be set either directlyto connect the high pressure end of the master cylinder with the gunactuator, with the release outlet closed, which is the firing position,as shown in Figure 10A, or to connect the gun actuator directly with thelow pressure side of the master cylinder, with the high pressure inletof the valve closed, which is the safe posi-v tion. as shown in Figure10B.

When the gunner depresses the treadle I24, pressure is exerted upon theactuator of which.- ever guns have been selected for operation by theturning of valves on theselector panel, and in this wise any combinationof guns can be fired. Also, the pressures at which the various triggersoperate may be so fixed by spring adjustment that, as the operatordepresses the treadle I24 he will bring the selected guns successivelyinto action, for instance beginning with the two outside small caliberguns and ending with the two large caliber guns. The cab and all that itcontains, hung from the trunnions, itself constitutes the necessary massto steady the gun recoil.

In the foregoing, we have described-the particular turret which we haveactually built and operated, attaining the objects of our invention,

and it will be understood that numerous modifications might be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of our invention,particularly in its broader aspects. The appended claims are drawnaccordingly.

We claim:

1. A turret comprising upright hollow supporting members, an armored guncab hung from trunnions on a horizontal axis in said upright supportingmembers, a hydraulic ram pivoted at one end to said gun cab at adistance from said axis and at its other end to one of said uprightsupporting members, a pump in said cab, a conduit connecting said pumpand said ram passing through one of said supporting members and itsassociated trunnion, a valve in said conduit, an electric motor in saidcab operating said pump, and conductors for said motor passing throughone of said supporting members and the associated trunnion.

2. A turret comprising upright supporting members, a gun platform hungon a horizontal axis on said upright supporting members, a pair ofhydraulic rams each pivoted at one end to one side of said gun platform,and at its other end to the adjacent upright supporting member, saidrams being hydraulically connected in parallel, a pair of hydraulicpumps connected in parallel on said platform, and conduits connectingsaid pumps and said rams for supplying to the latter liquid underpressure.

3. A turret comprising a base, a circular track on said base, a ringgear fixed on said base, a turn-table rotatable on said track, a pair ofhydraulic motors connected in parallel fixed on said turn-table, eachhaving a pinion meshing with said ring gear for rotating saidturn-table, a gun platform hung on a horizontal axis on supportinguprights on said turn-table, a pair of hydraulic rams each pivoted atone end to one side of said gun platform and at its other end to theadjacent upright, said rams being hydraulically connected in parallel, apair of electric motors on said gun platform, each electric motor havingtwo pumps on its shaft, conduits connecting one pump of each electricmotor in parallel with one pump of the other electric motor and withsaid hydraulic motors for supplying thereto liquid under pressure, asupply tank on said platform connected to said pumps, conduitsconnecting the other pumps of said electric motors in parallel and withsaid rams for supplying thereto liquid under pressure, and returnconduits leading to said tank for returning thereto liquid from saidhydraulic motors and'from said rams.

4. A turret comprising a cab with a bottom and front, back and sidewalls, said cab being hung to swing on a horizontal axis, guns mountedin fixed position to said cab and extending through the front wallthereof, a gunners seat at the back and side of said cab, and sightingmeans hingedly mounted on the adjacent side wall of said cab in front ofsaid gunners seat movable upward into a position clear of said seat anddownward into a position overlying said seat.

5. A turret comprising a box-like armored cab substantially rectangularin plan mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and about ahorizontal axis with its major portion below the latter axis, aplurality of guns mounted in fixed positions in the upper portion ofsaid cab extending forwardly therefrom, certain of said guns being ofrelatively small caliber with their breech ends spaced a considerabledistance from the back of said cab and certain others of said guns beingof relatively large caliber with their breech ends in proximity to theback of said cab, said large caliber guns being disposed remote from thesides of said cab and certain of said small caliber guns being disposedadjacent the sides of the cab, a gunners seat in the lower rear portionof said cab adjacent one side thereof in back of certain of said smallcaliber guns, power means for turning said cab in either direction abouteither of said axes selectively for moving it and with it said guns intraverse and in elevation, and means within said cab in front of saidseat for controlling said power means.

6. A turret comprising a box-like armored cab substantially rectangularin plan mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and about ahorizontal axis with its major portion below the latter axis, aplurality of guns mounted in fixed positions in the upper portion ofsaid cab extending forwardly therefrom, certain of said guns being ofrelatively small caliber with their breech ends spaced a considerabledistance from the back of said cab and certain others of said guns beingof relatively large caliber with their breech ends in proximity to theback of said cab, said large caliber guns being disposed remote from thesides of said cab and certain of said small caliber guns being disposedadjacent the sides of the cab, a gunners seat in the lower rear portionof said cab adjacent one side thereof in back of certain of said smallcaliber guns, power means for turning said cab in either direction abouteither of said axes selectively for moving it and with it said guns intraverse and in elevation, said power means comprising primary powerunits within said cab adjacent the other side thereof in back of certainother of said small caliber guns, and means within said cab in front ofsaid seat for controlling said power means.

'7. A turret comprising a box-like armored cab substantially rectangularin plan mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and about ahorizontal axis with its major portion below the latter axis, aplurality of guns mounted in fixed positions in the upper portion ofsaid cab extending forwardly therefrom, certain of said guns being ofrelatively small caliber and certain other of said guns being ofrelatively large caliber, said small caliber guns being spaced aparttransversely of said cab with certain thereof adjacent the sides of thecab, said large caliber guns being disposed remote from the sides of thecab and generally at the transverse midportion thereof, and power meansfor turning said cab in either direction about either of said axesselectively for moving it and with it said guns in traverse and inelevation.

8. A turret comprising a box-like armored cab substantially rectangularin plan mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and about ahorizontal axis with its major portion below the latter axis, aplurality of guns mounted in fixed positions in the upper portion ofsaid cab ex- H tending forwardly therefrom, certain of said guns beingof relatively small caliber and certain other of said guns being ofrelatively large caliber, said small caliber guns being spaced aparttransversely of said cab with certain thereof above and certain othersthereof below said horizontal axis and said large caliber guns beingdisposed substantially in the plane of said horizontal axis takentransversely of said cab, and power means for turning said cab in eitherdirection about either of said axes selectively for moving it and 11with it said guns in traverse and in elevation.

9. A turret comprising'a box-like armored cab substantially rectangularin plan mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and about ahorizontal axis with its major portion below the latter axis, aplurality of guns mounted in fixed posi tions in the upper portion ofsaid cab extending forwardly therefrom, certain of said guns being ofrelatively small caliber and certain other of said guns being ofrelatively lar'gecaliber, said small caliber guns being spacedaparttransversely of said cab with certain thereof'above and certain othersthereof below said ho'rion'tal'axis and said large caliber guns beingdisposed substantially at the transverse midportion of said cab in theplane of said horizontal axis taken transversely of said cab, and powermeans for turning said cab in either direction about either of said axesselectively for moving" it and with it said guns in traverse and in"elevation.

10. A turret comprising upright supporting members one of which ishollow, an armored ca b hung on said members for turning movement abouta horizontal axis, a hydraulic ram attached to saidcab and to one ofsaid uprights" for turning said cab about said axis, a hydraulic pump insaid cab, conduit means emanating said pump to said ram passing fromsaid cab into said h'ollow upright member and thence to said ram, andvalve means in said cab coanoning communicm tionbetween said conduitmearisga esaid pump.

11. A turret comprising u'p'ri'ght supporting members one of which ishollow, an armored cab hung on said members forturnin'g movement about ahorizontal axis, a hydraulic ram" attached to said cab and to one ofsaid uprights for turning said cab about said axis, a hydraulic pump insaid cab, conduit means connecting said pump to said ram passing fromcab into said hollow upright member and th co to said ram, a gunnersseat in said cab, valv'efmea'ns in said cab controlling communicationbetween said conduit means and said pump, and a control handle in frontof said seat for operating said valve means. e

, 12. A turret comprising a covered armored turntable rotatable about avertical axis, hollow upright supporting memberson said turntable, anarmored cab substantially rectangular in plan hung between said uprightmembers for turning movement about a horizontal xis by hollow trunnionsopening into said members and into said cab, hydraulic rams adjacentsaid upright members attached to said turiitableand to said cab forturning the latter about said horizontal axis, 4

power driven pumps in said cab, conduits passing from said pumps throughsaid trunnions and upright members to said rams rar supplying theretoliquid under pressure, return conduits passing from said rams throughsaid upright members and trunnions to the interpret said cab fordischarging liquid from said rains, means comprising hydraulic motorsunderlying" said I turntable for rotating the latter, oonduits passingfrom said pumps through said trunnions arid upright members to saidmotors for supplying thereto hydraulic liquid under pressure, returnconduits passing from saidmotor s through said uprights and trunnions tothe interior of said cab for discharging liquid fr om said motors, andmeans in said cab controlling flow of liquid through said conduits toand from said rams and motors. r

13. A turret comprising a covered armored turntable rotatable about avertical axis, hollow upright supporting members on said turntable,

anarmoredcab substantially rectangular in plan hung between said uprightmembers for turning movement-about a horizontal axis by hollow trunnionsopening into said members and into said cab, hydraulic rams adjacentsaid upright members attached to said turntable and tosaid cab forturning the latter about said horizontal axis, power driven pumps insaid cab, a hydraulic liquid reservoir in said cab, conduits connectingsaidpunips and reservoir to said rams for supply thereto of liquid underpressure and discharge of liquid therefrom, said conduits passingthrough said upright members and said trunnions, means comprisinghydraulic motors underlying said turntable for rotating the latter,conduits connecting said pumps and reservoir to said motors for supplythereto of liquid under pressure and discharge of liquid therefrom, saidsecond mentioned conduits passing through said upright members andtrunnions, and means in said cab controlling flow of liquid through saidco'nduits to and from said rams and motors.

14. A turret comprising a turntable rotatable about a vertical axishaving an armored covering and a substantially transversely extendingarmored tunnel housing, hollow upright supporting members carried by andopening at their lower ends into sai'dhousing, an armored cabsubstantially rectangular in plan hung between said upright members forturning movement about a horizontal axis by hollow trunnions openinginto said members and into said cab, hydraulic rams adjacent saidupright members attached to said turntable; and to said cab for turningthe latter about said horizontal axis, electric motors in said cab,-slip rings underlying said tunnel housing, leads to said slip rings froman external source of electric current passing through said tunnelhousing, leads passing irom'said slip rings through said upright membersand trunnions to said motors, pumps in said cab driven by said motors, ahydraulic liquid reservoir in said cab,

conduits connecting said pumps and reservoir to said rams for supplythereto of liquid under pressure and discharge of liquid therefrom, saidconduits passing through said upright members arid said trunnions, meanscomprising hydraulic motors underlying said tunnel housing for rotatingsaid turntable, conduits connecting said pumps and reservoir to saidmotors for supply thereto or liquid under pressure and discharge ofliquid therefrom, said second mentioned conduits passing through saidupright members and trunnions, and means in said cab controlling flow ofliquid through said conduits to and from said rams and motors.

IRWIN CHASE. BURNS DARSIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 480,215 Spiller Aug. 2, 18921,385,755 Roche July 26, 1921 1,387,678 Anderson Aug. 16, 1921 2,029,692Zindel Feb. 4, 1936 2,066,326 Brett Jan. 5, 1937 (Other references onfollowing page) Number 13 Name Date Radelet et a1 Nov. 28, 1939DeGavardie Dec. 5, 1939 Fey Mar. 4, 1941 Tarris et a1 Jan. 27, 1942Bruno July 28, 1942 Trotter et a1 Nov. 3, 1942 Haberlin Jan. 5, 1943Pontius et al June 29, 1943 Trotter July 6, 1943 Adams et a1 June 6,1944 Steb'bins July 18, 1944 Klemperer et a1. Nov. 30, 1944 Sutton Jan.1, 1946 Number FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy Sept. 2, 1935 ItalyJuly 16, 1936 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1935 Great Britain July 15, 1935Great Britain July 21, 1938 France July 1, 1935 France May 11, 1936France Mar. 14, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES British Navy, Life Magazine, page80, No- Phillips Mar. 12, 1946 15 Vem'ber 1939-

